Boris Johnson: My vision for future of the ‘greatest city on earth’

Peter Dominiczak, City Hall Correspondent

Monday 30 April 2012 11:56 BST

Boris Johnson today said he wanted to make London “ever safer, greener, cleaner and more attractive to live in”.

With three days to go until the capital goes to the polls, Mr Johnson warned against the “irresponsible proposals” of his rival Ken Livingstone and said his plans for a second term would “help bring prosperity to all”. In an open

letter to Londoners, Mr Johnson set out plans to save families money, improve the capital’s ageing transport network and stamp out the “scandal” of illiteracy. Mr Johnson writes: “This election comes when we have been going through the toughest times that anyone can remember. The big question is therefore blindingly simple.

“It is about who has the best plan for the jobs and growth that will help bring prosperity to all. It is about who will deliver the investment — from central government — that will take London forward. It is about who you can trust to spend that money wisely —­­ and who will be honest with you about where the money is coming from, and how it is spent.” Saying that his plans were “right for the future of the greatest city on earth”, Mr Johnson warned Londoners that Mr Livingstone would be forced to halt Tube upgrade programmes if he cuts fares by seven per cent.

“That is why it is utterly vital that we press on with our planned Tube improvements ­— and why it would be so wrong and so short-sighted to cut those programmes,” he writes.

He adds: “We have abandoned the grandiose and wasteful approach of the previous mayor. The choice is clear this Thursday. It is between a Mayor who invests in our future ­­­­— and irresponsible proposals from Ken Livingstone that would put that investment at risk.”

Transport

Mr Johnson said his grand plan is to automate the Tube network and introduce driverless trains, reducing the threat of strikes. The Mayor also claims that he will “keep fares as low as humanely possible while not putting investment in transport at risk”.

He wants to use a second term to complete the upgrade of the Northern line and its extension to Battersea, and continue upgrades on the Circle, Metropolitan, District and Hammersmith and City lines. Mr Johnson believes he can cut Tube delays by 30 per cent. Like his Labour rival, Mr Johnson’s big idea is to create a vast Overground rail network, allowing commuters to use Oyster pay-as-you-go. He will also expand the bike hire scheme to outer London town centres and push for a new road tunnel under the Thames. The Mayor will put 600 new buses on the streets by 2016.

Crime

The Mayor will put neighbourhood policing at the centre of his vision. He will boost Safer Neighbourhood Teams with an additional 2,000 police, including adding up to three officers and three specials to every team.

Following his 2008 promise to end the knife crime crisis he again pledged to keep his war on gangs at the centre of the battle for City Hall. The Met has set up a 1,000-strong dedicated gangs task force. Mr Johnson also said he would double the number of special constables to 10,000 and offer them a 50 per cent rebate on the Mayor’s share of council tax. The Mayor, who says there are 1,000 more police on the streets than when he entered office in 2008, has faced accusations from Mr Livingstone that he has presided over huge cuts.

Growing the Economy

Mr Johnson has unveiled plans for Londoners to keep more of the tax revenue they generate to spend on better public services. One of his key ideas is that the capital should get a greater return on the cash it contributes to government coffers. The Mayor will set up a London Funding Commission to ensure it is no longer a “cash cow” for the regions. Mr Johnson says focus on investment will guide London out of the recession and that his programme of Tube upgrades, Crossrail and house building will create 200,000 jobs in the next four years.

The Mayor will work with businesses to generate 250,000 apprenticeships by 2016, an average of 1,000 every week. Mr Johnson will also plough £221 million to transform high streets — particularly those hit by last year’s riots.

Cutting costs

Mr Johnson would cut his share of the council tax by at least 10 per cent over a second term, saving homeowners about £30 for an average Band D property. The Mayor’s share of the council tax currently funds Transport for London, the fire authority, the Metropolitan Police and the Olympics.

Mr Johnson said that unlike Mr Livingstone’s fares cut package it “does not threaten investment” and that he “will deliver it by sensible, cost-effective and responsible government”. He plans to save a further £1.5 billion across the Greater London Authority by cutting waste over the next year.

Life in London

Mr Johnson will build 55,000 affordable homes by 2015 and says he will invest £821 million in improvements to 45,000 council homes. He also wants to sign up 100,000 landlords to a new accreditation standard. Mr Johnson will seek to take more control of health and education from central government. The Mayor has already set up a London-wide public health board, which is taking over strategic planning on issues such as mental health, immunisation take-up and tackling childhood obesity.